Ahmedabad

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad has taken international drug kingpin Salim Ismail Dola into custody in Ahmedabad following his deportation from Turkey. Dola was wanted in connection with an illegal mephedrone manufacturing unit in Vadodara, where authorities seized 87.728 kilograms of drugs valued at 438.64 crore rupees in 2022. The Gujarat ATS had previously arrested 10 people in the case, during which Dola's central role surfaced. Investigators stated that Dola financed MD production, arranged precursor chemicals, and managed distribution and sales. After fleeing India, Dola travelled across several countries, including Dubai and Kenya, using an Indian passport. Indian authorities had secured an Interpol Red Corner Notice against him, leading to his deportation from Turkey. The ATS has begun interrogating Dola to uncover his extensive transnational drug syndicate and wider domestic distribution network.

During a public address in Banaskantha, Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the disbursement of the latest instalment of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, transferring over 18,000 crore rupees to around 10 crore farmers across India. He highlighted that government initiatives such as subsidized fertilizers, MSP procurement, PM Fasal Bima Yojana, and the PM KUSUM solar scheme have cumulatively benefited farmers with over 50 lakh crore rupees in savings and transfers. The Prime Minister underscored technological advancements in agriculture and animal husbandry, citing the distribution of over 26 crore Soil Health Cards, breed conservation via IVF, and nationwide cattle vaccination drives. He also dedicated and laid the foundation stones for key infrastructure projects, including two new train services, the Ahmedabad Metro extension to GIFT City and the airport, highway widening, cluster development programmes for horticulture, and modern Anganwadis across Gujarat, while inviting citizens to join the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced a two-day visit to Gujarat, beginning with a mega roadshow in Banaskantha alongside the state Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister. During the visit, the Prime Minister toured the Embryo Transfer Technology In Vitro Fertilisation Laboratory and the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre cattle farm, interacting with scientists, doctors, and researchers. The tour highlights development works worth over 14,400 crore rupees, including two Banas Dairy Bio-CNG plants at Tharad and Radhanpur, an Ahmedabad Metro Phase 2 extension towards the airport and GIFT City, and multiple Anganwadi and agricultural infrastructure projects. He will also release the 24th PM-KISAN instalment, amounting to roughly 19,000 crore rupees to assist farmers nationwide, and flag off railway services including the Sabarmati-Varanasi Express and the Mehsana-Becharaji-Sabarmati MEMU train.

A roadshow took place in Banaskantha during a two-day official visit to Gujarat, where attendees gathered along the route holding the national flag. Over the course of the visit, national development projects valued at over 14,400 crore rupees are scheduled for inauguration and foundation-stone laying. These initiatives include the launch of an embryo transfer technology laboratory, a bovine breeding and research centre in Bhildi, and metro rail expansion phases for the airport and GIFT City extensions. Furthermore, the twenty-fourth instalment of the PM Kisan scheme, amounting to approximately 19,000 crore rupees, is slated for release. The scheduled itinerary also includes travel to Ekta Nagar to participate in Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations at the Statue of Unity and inaugurate Bharat Parv. Gatherings along the event route displayed placards highlighting rural welfare schemes, pucca housing, and economic initiatives, addressing opposition statements regarding governance and leadership.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced a two-day visit to Gujarat from October 30 to 31, holding a roadshow in Banaskantha. During the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for development projects worth over 14,000 crore rupees in the region. He will also release the 24th installment of the PM-KISAN scheme, amounting to approximately 19,000 crore rupees, and dedicate the Bharat Gauvin Breeding and Research Centre and an IVF laboratory at Bhildi. Additionally, foundation stones will be laid for the Ahmedabad Metro Phase 2A airport extension and Phase 2B GIFT City extension. On the following day, the Prime Minister is scheduled to travel to Ekta Nagar to participate in Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations marking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's 151st birth anniversary, pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity, and inaugurate Bharat Parv 2026 alongside witnessing the Ekta Prakash Parv.

A comparative overview examines the rise, operational frameworks, and international footprints of Dawood Ibrahim and Lawrence Bishnoi. Dawood Ibrahim began with local crime in Mumbai during the 1970s, expanded internationally with Pakistani backing, aligned with anti-India terror frameworks during the 1993 Mumbai blasts, and continues to operate across Pakistan, the United Kingdom, West Asia, Africa, and Thailand using network sharpshooters. In contrast, Lawrence Bishnoi transitioned from student politics in Punjab in the late 2000s to a decentralised gang operating across North India, Maharashtra, and nations with large Punjabi diaspora communities, including Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia. Bishnoi operates from Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad, utilising newly recruited shooters.

A mid-air hijack scare triggered an emergency landing for an Air India Frankfurt-Delhi flight after pilots activated the squawk 7500 emergency signal. The flight was diverted to Jaipur International Airport, where it landed safely and all passengers on board were deboarded. Ahmedabad Air Traffic Control was the first to receive the hijack alert code, which prompted immediate security protocols. Aviation authorities inspected the aircraft following the landing. India's civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, has launched an investigation to determine why the pilots triggered the emergency code.

A special report examines the impact of twenty-five years of Narendra Modi's governance in transforming the lives of ordinary citizens across rural Gujarat. Through initiatives scaling from Gujarat to nationwide programmes such as Ayushman Bharat, Jyoti Gram Yojana, and Jal Jeevan Mission, basic amenities including electricity, healthcare, and water supply have reached the last mile. In Bharuch, an ambulance driver suffering a heart attack survived due to Ayushman Bharat, while an injured toddler in Rajkot received emergency civil hospital care via the 108 ambulance service. In Sabarkantha's Kava village, 24-hour uninterrupted electricity from Jyoti Gram Yojana facilitated domestic water access and boosted local animal husbandry. Furthermore, women in Ahmedabad's Jetalpur village highlighted financial assistance through Sukanya accounts and the Pradhan Mantri Matritva Yojana. Beneficiaries also noted the role of Anganwadi centres and girl child welfare schemes such as Kuwarbai Nu Mameru in empowering education and eliminating social burdens.

Villagers from five villages in Dholka near Ahmedabad have been protesting for over a month against severe industrial pollution. Residents of Bethawara, Thrasad, Nesta, Paldi, and Ambali accuse nearby factories of dumping chemical-laced waste into local drains, linking it to rising cancer cases and skin infections. Villagers claim that despite appealing for 15 years to local bodies, the Gujarat Pollution Control Board, and the state government, no action has been taken. The protesters plan to escalate their agitation with a Chakka Jam on roads and highways.

A panel of experts analyses Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to India and the prospects of bilateral ties. Martina, a journalist with Xinhua, describes the visit as 'a very important window of opportunity, a chance that we cannot miss,' highlighting key discussions surrounding border disputes and the trade deficit. Lieutenant General S. L. Narasimhan (Retd.) emphasizes the necessity of rebuilding trust and maintaining stability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), noting that diplomatic and economic progress hinges directly on border calm. Ambassador Yash Sinha recalls past summits in Ahmedabad and Mahabalipuram, cautioning against false dawns while stressing the importance of tackling market access and non-tariff barriers to resolve trade imbalances. The panel concludes that while expanding economic engagement is critical, India must maintain military readiness and proceed with a step-by-step approach.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in New Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit hosted by India, marking his first visit to the country in seven years following the 2020 Galwan Valley border clashes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the summit to review border disengagement implementation along the Line of Actual Control following military and national security advisor level talks. The leaders also addressed bilateral economic relations and the growing trade deficit. The 18th BRICS Summit brought together representatives from the expanded 11-member bloc under the theme of resilience, innovation, connectivity, and sustainability. Key initiatives discussed include the BRICS Economic Partnership 2030, supply chain resilience, expanded trade in services, and micro, small, and medium enterprise financing. Prime Minister Modi also conducted bilateral discussions with other attending world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, focusing on regional stability and global trade cooperation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit India for the BRICS Summit, marking his first visit to the country in seven years. The visit follows brief greetings at the Bishkek SCO Summit and a bilateral meeting in Tianjin in August 2025. Bilateral discussions are expected to focus on the border, trade, investment, and the broader relationship following the 2020 Galwan clash. Past diplomatic engagements between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping include the 2014 Ahmedabad visit, the 2015 Xi'an meeting, the 2018 Wuhan informal summit, and the 2019 Mamallapuram summit. The upcoming talks assess whether diplomatic relations can move towards stabilization.

An India Today special investigation reveals that registered unrecognised political parties in Gujarat collected over two thousand crore rupees in donations between 2019 and 2024, based on data analyzed by the Association for Democratic Reforms. Ground checks across Gujarat, Delhi, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh showed that several of these parties exist primarily on paper. The Bharatiya National Janata Dal received 957.44 crore rupees, while The New India United Party secured over 600 crore rupees, though its registered Ahmedabad office was locked without any signboard. The Satyavadi Rakshak Party, which collected over 330 crore rupees in 2023-24, fielded just one candidate in Vadodara who finished last, operating from a locked flat in Anand. Similarly, the Aam Janmat Party collected over 220 crore rupees while its registered office remained shut, and Saurashtra Janata Paksha received over 200 crore rupees. ADR noted that 90 percent of donations come from individuals and large donors despite poor electoral participation and minimal vote shares.

For the first time in over seven decades, the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony is moving out of the national capital and will be held in Kevadia, Gujarat, at Ekta Nagar near the Statue of Unity. President Droupadi Murmu will honour the awardees at the end of the month, celebrating artists including Mammootty, Kartik Aaryan, Yami Gautam, Randeep Hooda, and Sanjay Mishra, alongside filmmaker Aanand L. Rai, who won Best Direction in the Non-Feature category for 'Statue of Unity: Ekta Ka Pratik'. The surprise relocation from New Delhi has triggered debate, with opposition parties alleging political favouritism towards Gujarat. Critics have drawn parallels to previous landmark events, such as the Cricket World Cup final and the proposed Commonwealth Games bid in Ahmedabad, questioning why significant national events are repeatedly shifted to the state. Authorities and the concerned ministry remain tight-lipped, offering no official clarification on the reasons behind the venue shift or whether it represents a permanent change.

Heavy rainfall in Delhi NCR has caused severe waterlogging and traffic disruptions across the national capital, including central and south Delhi locations such as Connaught Place, Akbar Road, and Lajpat Nagar. Flight operations at the Indira Gandhi International Airport have been impacted due to waterlogging on the premises, leading to delays for arrivals from sectors including Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Port Blair. An orange alert was issued ahead of the downpour, with expectations of wind speeds reaching forty to fifty kilometres per hour. The meteorological department has indicated that the active monsoon spell and weather alert will continue across Delhi NCR and parts of north India over the next two days.

Onion prices have witnessed a sharp surge across major Indian cities, reaching up to ₹60 to ₹70 per kilogram in retail markets and bringing distress to consumers. The price hike follows a recent increase in sugar, milk, cooking oil, and vegetable costs, leading to a political attack by the Congress party against the central government over rising household expenditures. In response, Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare announced plans to release buffer onion stock through the Kanda Express initiative at a subsidized rate of ₹35 per kilo in select consuming centers. Official authorities also noted potential market speculation and cartelization, highlighting higher mandi rates in Nashik compared to Delhi. Field reports from Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad reveal widespread consumer concern as wholesale and retail traders attribute the sudden price escalation to supply chain disruptions and unseasonal rain damages. The situation has forced buyers to cut back on essential kitchen staples while waiting for government interventions to stabilize market rates.

Onion prices have surged across India, touching ₹60 to ₹70 per kilogram in retail markets across major consuming centres like Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad. The price hike within a single week has severely impacted household budgets and local businesses, following earlier price rises in essential commodities such as sugar, milk, and cooking oil. In response to the inflation, the opposition Congress targeted the central government over rising living costs. To cool down prices, Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare stated that onion buffer stocks would be released through Kanda Express in major consuming centres and sold at a subsidized rate of ₹35 per kilogram. The government also indicated possible cartelization and speculation as mandi prices in Nashik were reported to be higher than those in Delhi. Meanwhile, traders warn that persistent supply disruptions could push retail prices further up to ₹100 per kilogram in the coming weeks if market conditions do not improve.

A major political confrontation erupted in Tamil Nadu following police action against Leader of Opposition Udayanidhi Stalin over controversial remarks directed at Chief Minister Vijay and actor Trisha Krishnan.

Nationwide student protests over the NEET paper leaks and police violence have expanded across Indian cities including Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Jodhpur, and Bhopal.

This episode of Statecraft covers major geopolitical and national developments, beginning with Canada's historic intelligence shift. After four decades, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service publicly acknowledged that Canada-based Khalistani extremists orchestrated the Air India Flight 182 bombing in 1985, validating India's long-standing security concerns.